{"id":7202,"date":"2021-12-23T10:07:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T10:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/blog\/?p=7202"},"modified":"2023-06-07T08:38:16","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T07:38:16","slug":"post-brexit-water-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aquaread.com\/blog\/post-brexit-water-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Brexit and the Water Industry: Where Are We Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back in 2017, the effects of Brexit were yet to be seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

In our previous blog about the <\/span>water industry and Brexit<\/a><\/strong>, we talked about the possible changes to come. Previously, the UK\u2019s membership of the European Union had a significant impact on the water industry, from environmental standards to water quality legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of the UK\u2019s relationship with the EU, we\u2019ve seen huge improvements to environmental standards relating to water. So where are we now that we\u2019ve left the EU?<\/span><\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s look a little closer at what being in the EU meant for water.<\/span><\/p>\n

The EU Water Directive<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the European Union\u2019s environmental aims was to stop the deterioration of water bodies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The EU Water Directive was set out in 2000 and its mission was to have all EU bodies of water achieve \u2018Good Ecological Status\u2019 by 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

While this was indeed a substantial and admirable mission, it unfortunately <\/span>did not play out<\/a><\/strong> exactly as planned. Many bodies of water deteriorated and, in 2018 – 3 years <\/span>after <\/span><\/i>the \u2018deadline\u2019 – only 40% of European surface water bodies achieved \u2018Good Ecological Status\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite some of the failings of the EU Water Directive, many great things <\/span>did<\/span><\/i> come of being in the EU for the UK\u2019s water.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

For one, the UK\u2019s beaches are much better off for having been in the EU.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the UK joined the EU in the 70s, it was known for its dirty beaches. But by 2016, <\/span>96.5% of UK beaches met EU standards<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the time of the referendum, then, many environmentalists were worried that all the good that had been done here would reverse with Brexit. Where would we be without EU water quality standards, without the <\/span>Bathing Water Directive<\/a><\/strong>, the <\/span>Marine Strategy Framework Directive<\/a><\/strong>, and other renewed <\/span>water quality directives<\/a><\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n

Post-Brexit Water Regulation<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since Brexit, the government\u2019s actions relating to water quality<\/a><\/strong> have been somewhat inconsistent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, in the summer of 2021, both Covid and Brexit caused <\/span>disruptions to normal water treatment<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. This lack of access to the necessary treatment chemicals led to an Environment Agency announcement that companies it impacted could \u201cdischarge effluent without meeting the conditions\u201d of their permits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This unfortunate occurrence was of course a result of a range of new challenges, but this large-scale dumping of raw sewage was a real setback for UK water and the government\u2019s commitments to clean water.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a positive note, though, we <\/span>have<\/span><\/i> recently seen renewed investment in cleaner waters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP<\/a><\/strong>)
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Government, the <\/span>Environment Agency<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Ofwat<\/a><\/strong> set out in July of 2021 to <\/span>reform and review the WINEP<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

New reforms to the WINEP set out to improve the water industry\u2019s impacts on the environment. Goals include:<\/span><\/p>\n